A landmark ruling today by the Land and Environment Court of NSW has given the green light to the Australian Taxation Office proposed for Gosford.Earlier today the Court dismissed an appeal by the Gosford Waterfront Alliance.This will provide more certainly for employment prospects in Gosford CBD.

School holidays are almost upon us and Central Coast Council’s libraries have plenty of fun educational activities to keep the kids entertained.Highlights of this year’s activities include a workshop on 3D Printing and Design, a Japanese ghost show and a workshop on how to prepare for the HSC.Council’s Library Services Section Manager, Ms Andrea Edwards, said there was an array of events on offer catering to children as young as three as well as tween and young adult interests.“We have everything from a 3D print and design workshop and computer game workshops to music sessions where children can learn to play the ukulele and dance the samba,” Ms Edwards said.“If previous holiday sessions are anything to go by these events are sure to book out quickly, so I’d encourage interested parents to book in as soon as possible!“These holidays we are offering discounted prices for our members for select events.”“Simply visit any one of our branches to join in person or visit our website to join online anywhere, anytime.”Participants for the 3D Printing and Design workshop on 17 January at 10am at Blue Haven Community Centre need to create a Tinkercard before the workshop and bring their own laptops that can connect to WiFi.Led by Howard Wood from 3D Printing Studios, the workshop includes learning about the different technologies used for the 3D printing process and designing a pen that will be posted to participants after the workshop.Sean Murphy’s Ghost Jam Comedy Show was very well received when it was premiered at the Sydney Fringe Festival in September, and he will be premiering it on the Coast on 24 January at 2pm at Tuggerah Library.This free event is based on traditional Japanese ghost stories that most people have not heard before and has some fun and scary moments that will delight kids and adults alike.

A fantastic new 500 square metre playground for kids of all ages is now open at popular holiday spot The Entrance.Central Coast Council has invested $500,000 in the colourful new play space which is right next to the much loved Vera’s Water Garden.The new playground has multiple climbing stations, tunnels, a seated merry-go-round, an in-ground trampoline and the classic old favourite, hopscotch.It also has synthetic grass mounds and a rock climbing wall and slide, all surrounded by spongy soft fall and shaded with shade cloths.There’s plenty of seating for parents to sit and watch their kids play against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean.“My kids tried it out and they loved it!

Central Coast Council has extended the public consultation period for new planning controls for the Gosford CBD until Friday January 20, 2017.The planning controls seeking to move the commercial core of the CBD to Kibble Park, create a living city and revitalise the CBD have generated a great deal of community interest.Council is planning on holding and information session on the Development Control Plan (DCP) in the New Year, with details to follow.The amended Gosford DCP can be viewed online at haveyoursaycentralcoast.com.au, under Items on Public Exhibition or at Council’s Office in Mann Street and Libraries.

We love our sport on the Central Coast and we’re home to a talented and vibrant sporting community at all levels.Council is committed to providing the best facilities and playing surfaces year-round, and we have been carrying out a comprehensive maintenance and improvement program to ensure the best quality grounds for local sport.Sporting fields have been resurfaced, rejuvenated, returfed and regraded as part of a range of works from Woy Woy to Woongarrah.The works will assist our sporting codes during the summer, while also preparing playing surfaces for next year’s demanding winter season.Significant rejuvenation works involving weed spraying, aeration, fertilisation and, in some cases, turfing has been done to meet the specific needs of each ground and the sports predominately played there.The benefits of these works have already been seen in locations across the region, with reductions in ground closures due to wet weather, faster recovery rates for playing surfaces and a decrease in the need for ongoing maintenance.Crews have been busy at Bill Sohier Park and EDSACC Oval with work also scheduled for Darren Kennedy, Blue Haven, Hamlyn Terrace, Wadalba, Woongarrah and Jubilee ovals over the coming weeks.The maintenance work has been focused on naturally improving drainage, increasing turf growth and improving drought tolerance.At McKillop, Kariong and Ettalong ovals, synthetic cricket wickets have also resurfaced.In addition, we have upgraded the carpark facilities at Hylton Moore Oval and recently finalised a community art installation at Woy Woy Oval.The new mural depicts unity and our local sporting history, overlooking the recently redeveloped sports field.Measuring 36 metres in length and three metres high, the mural is made up of 24 colour printed steel panels, featuring a pelican symbol surrounded by around 100 original photographs of the Peninsula’s sporting culture from the past 65 years.We have just finished major drainage and irrigation upgrade works at Gavenlock Oval, Rogers Park and Chittaway Oval, with works scheduled to start at Baker Park in January.The new systems will assist our sporting fields in dealing with extreme weather conditions and support quality playing surfaces for the entire season.It will also support the maintenance of surfaces during long periods of dry weather thanks to a highly effective and efficient irrigation system.The improvement works at Gavenlock Oval, Baker Park and Chittaway Oval have been completed in partnership with Central Coast Football - who contributed $140,000 to the projects.Works have been finalised at Chittaway Oval, while the Rogers Park upgrade is currently underway, with Baker Park scheduled to reopen in April.Across the Central Coast, we maintain more than 75 sports fields, 12 multi-purpose courts, three netball facilities and a wide range of other sporting facilities, such as a Disc Golf course.Investing in our sports grounds, facilities and amenities is a key priority of Council as it helps promote an active, healthy and connected community.

A new mural depicting unity and our local sporting history has been installed at the recently redeveloped Woy Woy Oval.From Wednesday 14 December, passers-by and spectators visiting the Oval can expect to see the eye-catching community project, which has taken more than eight months to produce and over six weeks to construct.Measuring 36 metres long and three metres high, the installation is made up of 24 colour printed steel panels that, when constructed, feature a pelican symbol surrounded by approximately 100 original photographs of the Peninsula’s sport culture over the past 65 years.In February 2016, more than 1,200 primary school children from Woy Woy Public School, Umina Beach Public School and St John the Baptist Catholic School united on Woy Woy Oval to create the pelican symbol.

A day out on the water with Tim Conway at Central Coast Ferries and his friendly companion Milo the chocolate Labrador is a day to remember.Tim is a seventh generation ship’s captain whose family has been operating ferry services on Central Coast waters for 25 years.With the opportunity to be on the water every day, well, Tim nails it when he says "there’s something about being on the water – the sights and smells.

Drainage and irrigation upgrade works are underway at a number of popular sporting fields around the Central Coast.Gavenlock Oval, Rogers Park, Chittaway Oval and Baker Park will all have new systems in place by the end of the summer season.Council’s Administrator, Ian Reynolds said the new systems will assist our sporting fields in dealing with extreme weather conditions“The new drainage and irrigation will allow playing surfaces to recover much quicker after rain periods, significantly reducing ground closures and helping to maintain a quality playing surface for the entire season.“It will reduce maintenance costs moving forward and importantly, it will assist with the maintenance of surfaces during long periods of dry weather - with a highly effective and efficient irrigation system.”Works at Gavenlock Oval, Baker Park and Chittaway Oval have been completed in partnership with Central Coast Football - who contributed $140,000 to the projects.Central Coast Football’s Chief Executive Officer, Darren Sprod said the partnership with Council was important for the local football community.“As a major user of council sporting grounds it is important that we partner and invest with council to deliver better facilities for our footballers,” said Mr Sprod.“We have worked with council to have drainage installed at a number of grounds over the past few years and are seeing the benefits in reduced downtime after rain events.”“This year we are investing in Gavenlock Oval, Baker Park and Chittaway Oval to assist council in completing these important works.”Mr Reynolds added that the oval upgrades are an excellent example of Council working with the community to achieve a common goal.“Central Coast Football has been exceptional during the duration of this project and I’d like to thank Darren and his team for their support,” Mr Reynolds said.“The working relationship we have with Central Coast Football is invaluable as we continue to develop and improve sporting infrastructure across the region.”Works have been finalised at Chittaway Oval, while the Rogers Park upgrade is currently underway, with Baker Park scheduled for completion in early February.

Crowne Plaza at Terrigal is the new venue for a public meeting to review potential road works in part of Scenic Highway on Monday 19 December 2016.The public meeting will commence at 5.30pm, will be run by an independent facilitator, and be held at the Forresters Room at the Crowne Plaza.The venue for the public meeting has been changed to better accommodate the number of interested community members expected to attend.

A small section of Yarramalong Road in Wyong Creek will be reduced to single-lane to allow for works to be undertaken to stabilise a rock cutting damaged during the storms in June.Retaining Specialists Pty Ltd will be repairing rock face at a site approximately 100 metres west of 1146 Yarramalong Road on behalf of Council starting on Monday 12 December.One lane of the road will be closed, with traffic controls in place.

Summer signals the end of another school year and the start of a big stretch of holidays, when many of our kids like to get out and about and enjoy the extra time with their friends and family.As the Coast is a popular holiday spot, there will be more people at our facilities and on the roads as local children enjoy the outdoors, families get extra visitors and tourists flock to the region.Council is again joining forces with the Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation (LBDF) to help promote its important road safety campaign:

Central Coast Council is delivering key infrastructure projects on time and on budget according to a progress report presented at last week’s Council meeting.Roads, water, drainage and community facilities were the big ticket items in the first ever Central Coast Council Operational Plan, adopted on 29 June 2016 which outlined its annual spend, including management of more than $11 billion of assets.Council’s Administrator Mr Reynolds acknowledged the vision and hard work of the former Councils that have carried over into the new Council with a focus on delivering projects the community need, want and value.“We’ve reached some major milestones, including the opening of Bato Yard skate park in August, which has already attracted three majoring sporting events to the Coast, and the construction of shared pathway to connect locals with this new park,” Mr Reynolds said.“The Art House opening in May – was in fact one of my very first tasks as Administrator here and was the realisation of a long term dream and then plan by the former Wyong Shire Council.“The $8 million redevelopment of Woy Woy Oval grandstand has also added to the sporting infrastructure on the Coast.“An $8.25 million project to install a new odour control system at the Wyong South wastewater treatment plant will help secure the water supply to the growing population in the north of the Coast.”Central Coast Council manages some 2000 kilometres of roads and has completed a wide range of road works since the amalgamation.

Central Coast Council’s $15 million upgrade to the Wyong South wastewater treatment plant has reached another important milestone.Council’s Manager of Wyong Water Commercial and Planning, Mr Greg Cashin said the new inlet structure was now fully operational.“Wyong South treatment plant receives wastewater from a wide area - spanning from Watanobbi and Wadalba in the north to Ourimbah in the South and to Berkeley Vale and Tumbi Umbi in the east,” said Mr Cashin.“This equates to about 11 million litres of wastewater entering the plant every day.“Transferring the flow of wastewater from the old inlet structure to the new one is no mean feat.

Central Coast Council will hold an Extraordinary Council meeting on Wednesday 21 December to present the financial statements of the former Wyong Shire Council.The meeting will be held at the Central Coast Council Chambers, Hely Street, Wyong at 5pm.The meeting will be open to the public to attend and can be viewed live on Council’s YouTube Channel.

Central Coast businesses, sporting groups and community organisations are rushing to support a new digital promotional campaign for the Central Coast called This is the life.So far over 70 organisations have registered their interest in becoming a partner and helping to tell the Central Coast story.The Central Coast Express Advocate was one of the first to become a Gold Partner to the This is the life campaign.“There is no doubt that the Central Coast is God’s Own Country,” editor Mark Nolan said.“Just the other day I was home after work, walking with my daughter on Umina Beach, watching the sun set over the blue water and enjoying the cool sea breeze, thinking ahh, this is the life.”“We think it’s important to get behind this great initiative and will be sharing positive This is the life stories about the Central Coast in the paper and online.“It’s time all of us Coasties told our friends and family just how great life is in this spectacular region.”Council’s Administrator Ian Reynolds thanked all those organisations who have already signed up to support the campaign.“Now is the perfect time to promote positive perceptions about the Coast and make a strong stand as a region,” Mr Reynolds said.“By all coming together, businesses, sporting groups, community, the arts, the education sector we can help drive positive perceptions of the Central Coast and make it the very best it can be,” Mr Reynolds added.“Since working and living on the Coast I have been amazed by what is on offer here and it’s time we let other people in on these secrets.”Become a Partner - local businesses, educators, sporting and community groups can help spread the word by becoming a campaign partner.

Gosford Regional Gallery will play host to two national exhibitions starting Saturday 10 December, furthering its commitment to attract significant touring exhibitions to the Central Coast.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds said it will be a busy summer period for the gallery.“It’s wonderful to see two fantastic bodies of work on display right in our own backyard,” said Mr Reynolds.“As one of the state’s leading regional galleries, Gosford Regional Gallery has proven time and again that it is an ideal venue to display work of this significance and calibre.“I’d encourage everyone to take the opportunity over the holiday period to see these wonderful exhibitions and support the great work of the gallery.”Behind the Lines presents the humour and nostalgia of 2016’s best political cartoons, while Bare:

Central Coast Council invites members of the community to attend a public meeting at the Cowrie Restaurant, Scenic Highway in Terrigal on Monday 19 December 2016.The public meeting will commence at 5.30pm, will be run by an independent facilitator, and is to consider potential road works in part of Scenic Highway.Council would like to thank the owner of the Cowrie Restaurant, Mr Brett Dengate, for agreeing to host the meeting, and urges interested members of the community to attend.

A clock has been installed at The Entrance by the local Lions Club in partnership with Central Coast Council.The clock is located in Bayview Mall outside the cinema and was instigated by Council and The Entrance Lions Club to complement the recently upgraded mall area.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said Council is happy to support these great community initiatives to improve the local community.“Council has always supported and worked together on various programs associated with the Lions Clubs across the Coast,” Mr Reynolds said.“Over the last few years, we have supported various Clubs with grants totalling more than $20,000 to support a range of projects such as community events, improvements to facilities and purchase of equipment to expand the range of services supplied by those Clubs and to assist with their volunteer development.“The new clock at The Entrance is a great example of where Council and the local Lions Club are working together to improve the amenity of our local community.The clock was built locally and uses modern technology to stay on time.Recently The Entrance Lions Club’s celebrated their 60th anniversary, making them the oldest Lions club on the Central Coast.Lions Club President, Mr Ken Bulkeley, said it’s a proud achievement.“Next year will see 100 years of Lions Clubs working to assist their communities and we acknowledged this milestone at our anniversary last month,” Mr Bulkeley said.“It’s great to see our ideas come to life and often this is made possible through the support of Council.“The clock is an idea we’ve had for a few years as we knew it would complement the area and become an asset the community can be proud of.”Find out how Council can support your community group by visiting centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Tickets are available for a Christmas concert at The Art House tomorrow (Friday 2 December) for what is the very first Christmas concert at the new $12.7 million venue.Opened in May, The Art House is slated to be the new premiere arts venue for the Coast, and an array of national performers are on the calendar for 2017, including comedian and television personality Kitty Flanagan and country singer Darren Coggan.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said it was exciting to be able to celebrate Christmas at The Art House.“Christmas is a magical time, especially for children and we’re thrilled there are some wonderful concerts planned to celebrate The Art House’s very first festive season.”Led by Green Point resident Mrs Karina Moss-Hollands, the Concertante Ensemble has been running for more than 10 years and comprises string players from the Sydney Symphony and beyond.Listen in awe as the group performs the magical Christmas Concerto by Corelli.“The Pastoral movement is one of the best known movements of its kind alongside the pastorals from Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio,” Mrs Moss-Hollands said.“One would not expect more glorious music in Heaven!”The Christmas Concerto was commissioned by Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni and published posthumously in 1714 as part of Corellis’ Twelve concerti grossi, Op. 6.The concerto bears the inscription Fatto per la notte di Natale (made for the night of Christmas).Its composition date is uncertain, but there is a record of Corelli having performed a Christmas concerto in 1690 for the enjoyment of his new patron.The program also includes Tchaikovsky’s String Serenade Waltz, Copland’s ‘Hoe Down’, Vivaldi’s Concerto ‘Alla Rustica’ and Schnittke’s fun ‘Polka’ for Strings.On 23 December at The Art Wyong a special production of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet will be performed at 2pm.'Play me a Story...The Nutcracker' combines exquisite violin playing, storytelling, illustrations and dance to tell the much loved story of a tender hearted little girl, Marie, and her favourite toy, a wooden Nutcracker carved to look like a soldier.Tchaikovsky’s famous music has been transcribed for two violins and percussion, and will be performed by violinists Ms Esmeralda Tintner and Mrs Lisa Stewart and percussionist Ms Kerryn Joyce.

Summer has well and truly made its presence on the Coast!